Ignition device for automobile torpedoes.



No. 825,914. I PATENTED JULY 17, 1906. F. M. LEAVITT. IGNITION DEVICEFOR AUTOMOBILE TORPEDOES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11,1905.

INVENTORI WITNESSES: 5 $24 01% v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. LEAVITT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO E. W. BLISS COMPANY.OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

IGNITION DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE TORPEDOES'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1906.

Application filed Septembei 11,1905. Serial No. 278,004.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK M. LEAVITT, a citizen of the United States,residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in IgnitionDevices for Automobile Torpedoes, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automobile torpedoes which are propelled by anengine or motor driven by a charge of compressed air the energy of whichis increased by burning a combustible, so as to heat the air. Theignition of this combustible should be effected upon the launching ofthe torpedo and shortly after the starting of the engine or motor. Theigniting mechanism for accomplishing this result is set forth andclaimed in the following patents: United States, N 0. 693,872, datedFebruary 25, 1902; Great Britain, N 0. 10,126, dated June 1, 1900;France, No. 301,043, dated June 7, 1900; Belgium, No. 150,393, datedJune 8, 1900; Germany, No. 130,621, dated June 15, 1900; Italy, No./903, dated June 30, 1900; Denmark, No. 4,130, dated August 12, 1901;Norway, No. 10,132, dated June 13, 1900; Sweden, No. 15,981, dated June11, 1900; Spain, No. 26,190, dated August 24, 1900; Japan, No. 4,542,dated January 31, 1901.

The present invention provides an improvement upon the igniting deviceset forth in said patents.

The object of this invention is to avoid the possibility of prematureoperation of the igniter, such as might fail to accomplish the ignitionof the combustible charge.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of themiddle portion of a torpedo, showing generally the parts pertaining totheeprcsent invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal mid-section ofthe igniting mechanism, on a larger scale, showing it cocked or readyfor action. Fig. 3 is a similar view of part of this mechanism, showingit after having acted. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4 4 inFig. 3.

Referring to Fig. l, A designates the compressed-air reservoir orfiask,from which by a pipe 'a compressed air is conveyed to the motor orengine. (Not shown.) The pipe a leads through any ordinarycharging-valve F and any suitable starting-valve, and thence to theengine: 1

C is a chamber containing the combustible material, preferably alcoholor other liquid hydrocarbon, which communicates through a pipe I) with areceptacle or vessel D within the reservoir A. The chamber C when filledhas a space 0 above the liquid, which fills with compressed air as thelatter is forced into the reservoir A, so that its pressure is the sameas that in the reservoir.

During the run of the torpedo as the'pressure diminishes in thereservoir A the air confined in the space 0 expands and gradually expelsthe alcohol from the chamber C lhrough the pipe 1) into the receptacleD. At its first inflow into D it should be ignited, and for this purposean igniter H is introduced from the exterior through a tube d, leadingto the receptacle D. At the outer end of the tube (1 a lock or cookingmechanism J is arranged. This is contained within a shell I, having acap P, which when removed permits the insertion of the igniter H. Theshell I is formed with a chamber closed exteriorly by a screw-plug is,within which chamber moves a. lunger L and beneath it a piston M, bothFeing pressed down by a spring 6. The plunger L has an opening throughwhich the igniter passes and has a tooth Z,which acts as a trigger-searto hold back the hammer or firing-pin Q against the stress of its springS. The igniter has a tube S which at its lower end carries aslow-burning cartridge r, havin a percussion-cap 1". Within the tube 8'is t e firing-pin Q, and above it within a cap g is its spring S. Whenthe igniter H is inserted through the tube (1, the firing-pin head Qcatches against the tooth Z, and the screwing down of the cap Pconipresses the spring S.

(See Fig. 2.) The pressing up of the plunger L by the piston M withdrawsthe tooth Z and permits the spring S to throw forward the firing-pin Q,(see Fig. 3,) so that it strikes and explodes the cap r and fires thecartridge 1', which in turn ignites the alcohol in'the receptacle D.

The parts thus far referred to are all shown in the prior patents abovenamed, although in somewhat dilferent form. In the construc'tion of saidprior patents upon the launching of the torpedo the opening of the thatthe reservoir 'T is isolated. Consegin to flow over from the vesse Ginto the reauxiliary reservoir T, so that it rises to an starting-valveadmitted air to the engine and I a portion of this air was conductedback through a branch pipe, so that its pressure acted underneath thepiston M to lift the plunger L and operate the igniter. There wasliability that the igniter would be operated too soon, so that thecartridge 1- would burn out before the combustible li uid would be equalpressure therein. Before launching the torpedo this communication is cutofl, so

quently the piston M receives on its upper. side the pressure from themain reservoir A and on its under side the pressure from the auxiliaryreservoir T. Before launching, these pressures are equal, so that thespring e suffices to keep the plunger L down. Upon the launching of thetorpedo the opening of the starting-valve admits air from the reservoirA to the engine and immediately the pressure in A begins to fall, thepressure in T remaining uniform. This action continues for a short time,perhaps one or two seconds, until the pressure above the piston Mbecomes only enough less than that below it to lift the piston andlunger, and thereby release the firin spin and operate the igniter. Thisshort de ay is suflicient to enable the expanding air in the space 0 toexpel enough liquid from the vessel G into the receptacle D to insurethat the liquid combustible shall be ignited before the cartridge 1'shall have burned out.

A suitable way of admitting air from the reservoir A to reservoir T isby means of a tube u, connecting the upper and lower parts of thechamber in-theshell I. As the pressure increases in A air flows throu htube (1 into shell I, through a duct 1) in p unger L, and through agroove w in a cock W to the upper end of the tube u, and from its lowerend into the tube it. During pumping up, the cock 1' is turned with itsgroove w in coincidence with this tube a; but after pumping up it isturned out of coincidence therewith, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Any other means of admitting compressed air from the reservoir A toreservoir T may be substituted.

The construction and pro ortions of the respective parts may be great yvaried.

The present invention is not limited to the use of a liquid combustible.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a compressedair reservoir and ani gniter adapted to ignite a combustible charge for heatin thecompressed air, of means for operating the igniter adapted to act upon afall-of pressure in the reservoir, whereby premature operation of theigniter is avoided.

2. The combination with a compressedair reservoir and an igniter adaptedto ignite a combustible charge for heating the compressed air, of meansfor operating the i niter comprising an auxiliary compressev airreservoir, and a movable art receiving on one side the pressure from themain reservoir and on the other side that from the auxiliary reservoir,and adapted when the pressure in the former falls below that in thelatter to be displaced by the preponderant pressure to operate theigniter.

3. The combination with a compressedair. reservoir and an igniter, thelatter comrising a spring-pressed firing-pin and means or restrainingit, of means for operating the I igniter comprising an auxiliarycompressedair chamber and a piston, the latter receiving on oppositesides the pressures from the main'and auxiliary reservoirs, and adaptedwhen displaced by the pressure from the latter to withdraw saidrestraining means to operate the 'igniter.

4. The combination with a compressedair reservoir, an igniter, anauxiliary compressed-air reservoir, a movable art between saidreservoirs adapted to be isplaced by a preponderant pressure in theauxiliary reservoir to operate the igniter, and means for admittingcompressed air from the main reservoir to the auxiliary reservoir.

In witness whereof I have hereunto si ed my name in the presence of twosubscri ing witnesses.

FRANK M. LEAVITT.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR C. FRASER, FRED WHITE.

